Last month, Michigan announced that Maloney and athletic director Dave Brandon "mutually agreed to not extend" his contract, which ends June 30.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Rich Maloney back to the Ball State family and the Muncie community," athletic director Bill Scholl said in a statement.

"He was an integral part of continuing the outstanding tradition of Ball State baseball in his previous tenure with the Cardinals, and we are looking forward to his return. Coach Maloney has built an outstanding resume as a collegiate head coach and his proven track record was a key factor in his hiring at Ball State."

Former Michigan baseball coach Rich Maloney, center, will take over the program at Ball State, where he coached from 1996 to 2002.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

It's the second time in less than three months a Michigan coach has ended up back with the program that he led before coming to Ann Arbor.

On April 4, Michigan women's basketball coach Kevin Borseth resigned his post and returned to Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he coached for nine seasons before leaving to join the Wolverines in 2007.

Maloney, who had a 341-224 record in 10 seasons at Michigan, led the Wolverines to three Big Ten titles, two Big Ten Tournament championships and an NCAA Regional title in 2007.

Last year's team finished 22-34, the second straight sub-.500 record for the Wolverines after finishing with a winning record in each of Maloney's first eight seasons.

In his previous seven-year stint at Ball State, Maloney's teams were 256-144-1, won four straight MAC West Division titles (1998-2001) and two MAC regular season titles (1998-99).

Maloney led Ball State to the only two 40-win seasons in program history in 1997 and 1999.

“I think Rich is every bit the coach he was, and he’s probably a better coach because he has more experience than he had in his first trip through Ball State,” Beals told the newspaper. “I’m happy for Rich to have an opportunity to go back there where he had great success.

“Rich is a great baseball coach. He proved that at Ball State and Michigan, and he’s going to prove that again. I’m happy for Ball State and the baseball program, which I still feel a part of, and I’m happy for Rich as a colleague. They’re both getting a good situation.”

Comments

Lac Court Orilles

Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.

Has the Kent State University Coach been offered the Michigan job yet?

WWBoDo

Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 9:08 p.m.

A bird in the hand........

1959Viking

Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 5:37 p.m.

In coaching sometimes players stop hearing you, you lose your drive, or something is just missing. Changing coaches isn't an indictment of Maloney's skill or talent. It might have been just time for a change.

rushvillerocket

Sun, Jun 24, 2012 : 6:46 p.m.

Sorry, azwolverine is the Dictator buddy...:-)

rushvillerocket

Sun, Jun 24, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.

Obviously Viking is a Dictator supporter....
That said, I truly hope Berenson, Beilien, and don't forget Hutch...don't have a sub .500 record in the near future...despite all having squeaky lean programs as well...the ax may fall...

azwolverine

Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 10:45 p.m.

If Dave &quot;Brand&quot; wants &quot;his&quot; guys in there, then why hasn't he fired Berenson or Beilein? Oh, I know...they're getting the job done, that's why. No slam on Maloney, I wish him well at Ball St and wouldn't have minded him staying at UM, but for the most part Brandon is cleaning house where it needs to be cleaned and the results he's getting speak for themselves.

7718

Sat, Jun 23, 2012 : 1:54 a.m.

Rushvillerocket is dead on...Dave Brand wants HIS people in there. When , or if, these new coaches have success then Brand can claim that it was HIS doing that created the success of the program. This will eventually come back to haunt him, but by then he'll have some lame excuse that most Michigan fans will fall for.

rushvillerocket

Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 6:45 p.m.

I agree in part if it were a team where players were on the roster for an extended time, like MLB. But college are 4 years or less so turnover is frequent. He had a couple under par years, due mostly to significant injuries, but had 8 very competent years ahead of that.
However, his ultimate demise is that the Dictator did not hire him...thus the divorce.
He is a great leader, coach, ran a squeaky clean program, and most definitively one of the best teachers in the college game...and will continue to be at Ball State.

rushvillerocket

Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 5:11 p.m.

As I mentioned before...shortly after he was let go by the dictator...
When -Ball State- visits UM at Fisher Stadium, I will be on the 1st base side rooting for the Coach.
Go Blue...until they play the cardinals in baseball :-)

MRunner73

Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 1:50 p.m.

Good luck Coach Maloney at Ball State!!

heartbreakM

Fri, Jun 22, 2012 : 1:12 p.m.

Despite 2 subpar years, Maloney had a very good career at UM. It would seem that there must have been something between Brandon and Maloney to make DB get rid of him (or whatever he terms it). Maloney is a good coach and his teams usually played well, and with class. Good luck to Coach Maloney back at Ball State.